Grant funding will support efforts to increase access to high-quality parks within a 10-minute walk

Ashburn, Virginia, Feb. 11, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — As part of the 10-Minute Walk campaign, which aims to address the fact that 1 in 3 Americans don’t have a park within a 10-minute walk (or half-mile) of home, the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), along with The Trust for Public Land (TPL) and the Urban Land Institute (ULI), has selected 10 campaign cities nationwide to receive grant funding totaling $400,000. This funding will be used to support city planning and policy efforts that help increase access to high-quality, close-to-home parks and public green space. The cities are as follows:

Bennettsville, South Carolina

Memphis, Tennessee

Denver, Colorado

Paterson, New Jersey

Los Angeles City, California

Raleigh, North Carolina

Los Angeles County, West Athens-Westmont, California

Tacoma, Washington

Lynnwood, Washington

Winooski, Vermont

While every campaign city has committed to the broad vision that everyone deserves a high-quality park within a 10-minute walk, each city’s approach is different. For example, Chattanooga, Tennessee, which is one of 12 cities to receive funding in 2018, is developing a parks master plan that uses the 10-minute walk as a benchmark for improved park access, includes underrepresented populations and prioritizes infrastructure improvements to promote park usage.

“As the Scenic City, we understand that parks play a critical role in the health and well-being of our communities, which is why we are proud to be connecting all of our residents to local parks,” said Mayor Andy Berke of Chattanooga, Tennessee, which will host a 10-minute walk training for new grantees in March. “From greenways, playgrounds and splash pads, to hiking and biking trails, Chattanoogans should possess options for activities and community gatherings.”

“Parks are essential to the health, happiness and prosperity of our nation,” said Jack Kardys, chair, NRPA Board of Directors. “We believe everyone deserves a great park, and we’re proud to help lead this effort that prioritizes parks in cities and urban areas across the country.”

Launched in 2017, the 10-Minute Walk campaign establishes the ambitious goal that everyone in the United States should live within a 10-minute walk (or half-mile) of a high-quality park or green space. A bipartisan group of more than 220 mayors have joined this effort. Specifically, the campaign aims to work with mayors to bring about city- and regional-level changes in three main areas: planning, funding and policies. These may include city bond measures; zoning changes to encourage park development; park master plans focused on access and quality; the expansion of “joint use” agreements that open school playgrounds, tracks and gyms for public use after hours; and other innovations.

“We are partnering directly with mayors and other civic leaders in order to help create better, more livable cities,” said Diane Regas, president and CEO of The Trust for Public Land. “Parks and green space are an essential part of improving the health and well-being of communities across the country.”

“Thoughtfully designed parks make a positive difference in the quality of life in communities, serving as a respite, a source of civic pride, and a catalyst for economic development,” said W. Edward Walter, global chief executive officer for the Urban Land Institute. “We are excited to help promote the 10-minute walk campaign and improve park access in urban areas across the country.”

The campaign was built on research that shows access to high-quality parks within a half mile of home deliver a wide range of benefits for urban residents and cities. These include reducing crime rates, improving mental and physical health outcomes (e.g., depression, anxiety and obesity), increasing city revenues, and protecting communities from more flooding, extreme temperatures and other impacts from climate change. This effort also has broad support; according to a recent report published by NRPA, 85 percent of Americans support efforts to ensure every person has access to a great part within a 10-minute walk of their home.

Funding for the 10-Minute Walk campaign is provided by The JPB Foundation.

About the National Recreation and Park Association The National Recreation and Park Association is a national not-for-profit organization dedicated to ensuring that all Americans have access to parks and recreation for health, conservation and social equity. Through its network of 60,000 recreation and park professionals and advocates, NRPA encourages the promotion of healthy and active lifestyles, conservation initiatives and equitable access to parks and public space. For more information, visit www.nrpa.org. For digital access to NRPA’s flagship publication, Parks & Recreation, visit www.parksandrecreation.org.

About The Trust for Public Land The Trust for Public Land creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come. Millions of people live near a Trust for Public Land park, garden, or natural area, and millions more visit these sites every year. To support The Trust for Public Land and share why nature matters to you, visit www.tpl.org.

About the Urban Land InstituteThe Urban Land Institute is a global, member-driven real estate organization whose mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the institute has more than 42,000 members worldwide representing all aspects of land use and development disciplines. For more information, please visit uli.org or follow us on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.